What Type of Home Inspection Do I Need?

Guest post by Alexander Hassoulas, from Ammons Pittman Realtors, Raleigh, NC. Find out more from Alexander and the Ammons Pittman team at RaleighRental.com. Additional information and editing by Britt Treece.

Before you finally seal the deal, a home inspection is crucial because it serves as a visual evaluation of the home you’re going to purchase. For that purpose, home inspectors provide a wide range of home inspection services that could help the owner determine if the home is really worth its value or not. Likewise, through a home inspection, you can also identify if there are any problems within the house that you wouldn’t easily notice without professional help.

Here are some of the most useful types of home inspection that you should consider if you’re a homeowner:

4 Home Inspections and Why You Might Need Them

1. General Home Inspection

This is the most common and essential type of home inspection you need as a future property owner. These inspections allow you to get a general idea of the property’s health; they also reveal if the property owner conducted routine maintenance. The inspectors who are allowed to conduct general home inspections are usually members of a nationally recognized organization or certified by state run agencies. A thorough general home inspection would cover a wide range of inspections such as plumbing, electrical wiring, insulation, roofing, and the structural features of the home. Likewise, the inspector would come up with a report discussing home improvements that can be done to meet current standards in the real estate market.

2. Septic Systems and Tanks Inspection

If the house you’re going to purchase has a septic tank, then it’s necessary to have it tested as well. Septic systems are made up of tanks, and this is where the solids settle. Usually, an inspector would perform a dye test to determine if the leach field has issues.

As a buyer, it’s important for you to ensure that the entire septic system is in good condition. Thus, the tank should be pumped out and visually inspected by a professional.

3. Termite / WDIR / WDO Inspection

This can be done by a general home inspector, and usually costs around $75-150. The inspector would check if there are any signs of structural damage brought on by insect infestation, and what should be done to prevent the problem from getting worse.

On homes that are newly constructed, the builder usually offers a warranty. Wherein, prior to the warranty period ending, scheduling a home inspection would definitely save you from a lot of trouble and it’s also a great cost-savings investment. Basically, a thorough inspection of your home, as well as the systems within could provide you with a list of items that you should ask the builder to repair and/or replace.

Final Words

It’s very important that you get a home inspection prior to closing on a home. When it comes to these things a professional home inspection should be your priority. Likewise, after signing a contract, make sure that you schedule a home inspection right a way to know if there are any problems with the property that you purchased and be able to perform the necessary fixes to prevent the issue from getting worse.